Belton Police and TxDOT Warning Pokemon Go Trainers to Be Safe and Smart

TxDOT and the Belton Police Department are hoping Pokemon Go trainers will be smart and safe while hunting so they don't have to create a “Don’t PokemonGO & Drive" campaign.

If you've been on social media lately, your newsfeed is probably flooded with Pokémon Go memes, screencaps, hacks, and feature stories. The game has exploded in popularity over the past 6 days, and you're only going to be seeing and hearing more about it.

The game is an augmented reality app for mobile devices which allows users to point their phone's camera at real-world locations to spot, fight, and capture super-powered cartoon animals.

Seemingly random locations in towns all over the world contain different Pokémon, as well as gyms where trainers can test their skills and "Poké Stops" where they can stock up on supplies.

The nature of the game requires players to be staring at their phones, and that's what has safety officials and police concerned.

It's easy to imagine someone behind the wheel looking through their phone's camera in search of Pokémon instead of focusing on the road. Personally, I've already seen a few screencaps proving it's already happening.

Sadly, I'm sure that, at some point, I'll come across a story of someone walking into traffic or off a cliff while chasing down a rare Pokémon.

Don't be that person who makes national headlines for getting hit by an 18-wheeler while chasing a Rapidash across I-35 or walks into snake a den while stalking an Ekans.